Difference between revisions of "First Lord of the Star League"

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The '''First Lord''' was the title for the head of state of the original [[Star League]] and the [[Second Star League]], both interstellar alliances of all the [[Inner Sphere]].
The '''First Lord of the Star League''' was the head of state of the [[Star League]].<ref name=SL99>''The Star League'', p. 99</ref>
 
  
The First Lord had numerous powers that made him "first among equals" compared to the leaders of the other [[Great Houses]], among them were three very important powers.  First was the ability to call on the [[Star League Defense Force]]; though war could not technically be declared without the [[Star_League#High_Council|High Council]]'s approval, loopholes within the Accords (and the soldiers' willingness) allowed the First Lord to essentially give any order for "defensive" purposes.  Second was the ability to shut down any exchange or mint, or any company dealing in inter-realm trade, at will.  Third was the ability to withhold advanced [[Terran Hegemony]] technology from the other realms, a ploy often used in exchange for certain favors.<ref name=SL99/>
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== First Star League ==
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The '''First Lord of the Star League''' had numerous powers that made them "first among equals" compared to the leaders of the other Great Houses, among which three were considered the most important.  First was the ability to call on the [[Star League Defense Force]]; though war could not technically be declared without the [[Star_League#High_Council|High Council]]'s approval, loopholes within the Accords (and the soldiers' willingness) allowed the First Lord to essentially give any order for "defensive" purposes.  Second was the ability to shut down any exchange or mint, or any company dealing in inter-realm trade, at will.  Third was the ability to withhold advanced [[Terran Hegemony]] technology from the other realms, a ploy often used in exchange for certain favors.<ref name=SL99>''The Star League'', p. 99</ref>
  
 
The First Lord however was not the Commander-in-Chief of the SLDF; that role was filled by the [[Commanding General]], who was nominated by the First Lord but required approval from the other Council Lords.<ref>''The Star League'', p. 112</ref>
 
The First Lord however was not the Commander-in-Chief of the SLDF; that role was filled by the [[Commanding General]], who was nominated by the First Lord but required approval from the other Council Lords.<ref>''The Star League'', p. 112</ref>
  
 
During the first Star League the position of First Lord was a hereditary position held by [[House Cameron]].  However, [[Stefan Amaris]] was able to gain the confidence of the last First Lord, [[Richard Cameron]], and in a dastardly plot killed him and wiped out the entire extended Cameron family.  After his defeat in the [[Amaris Civil War]] and the [[Operation Exodus|exodus]] of the SLDF, none of the other Council Lords could agree on who should assume the position of First Lord.  This led directly to the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]].
 
During the first Star League the position of First Lord was a hereditary position held by [[House Cameron]].  However, [[Stefan Amaris]] was able to gain the confidence of the last First Lord, [[Richard Cameron]], and in a dastardly plot killed him and wiped out the entire extended Cameron family.  After his defeat in the [[Amaris Civil War]] and the [[Operation Exodus|exodus]] of the SLDF, none of the other Council Lords could agree on who should assume the position of First Lord.  This led directly to the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]].
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{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! scope="col" width="150" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
 +
! scope="col" width="150" style="background: #dedede;" | Reign
 +
! scope="col" style="background: #dedede;" | Descent
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="3" style="background: #efefef;" | '''First Lord of the Star League, 2571 - 2765'''
 +
|-
 +
| [[Ian Cameron]]||[[2571]] - [[2602]]||
 +
|-
 +
| [[Nicholas Cameron]]||[[2602]] - [[2649]]||Son of [[Ian Cameron|Ian]]
 +
|-
 +
| [[Michael Cameron II]]||[[2649]] - [[2690]]||Grandson of [[Nicholas Cameron|Nicholas]]
 +
|-
 +
| [[Jonathan Cameron]]||[[2690]] - [[2738]]||Son of [[Michael Cameron II|Michael]]
 +
|-
 +
| [[Simon Cameron]]||[[2738]] - [[2751]]||Son of [[Jonathan Cameron|Jonathan]]
 +
|-
 +
| [[Richard Cameron II|Richard Cameron]]||[[2751]] - [[2765]]||Son of [[Simon Cameron|Simon]]
 +
|}
 
   
 
   
 
== Second Star League ==
 
== Second Star League ==
The position of First Lord was resurrected during the '''second Star League'''. The Inner Sphere was being invaded by the [[Clans]] and the resurrection of the Star League and the choosing of a First Lord was intended as an unifying political gesture.   
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The position of First Lord was resurrected with the creation of the [[Second Star League]]. Faced with the continued threat of invasion by the [[Clans]], the various powers of the Inner Sphere banded together to recreate the old alliance and present a united front to the Clan menaceRather than a hereditary position, the First Lord would be chosen at a tri-annual [[Whitting Conference]], either by lot or by a vote of two-thirds of the Council Lords, and that no one who had already served as First Lord could do so again until all others had already done so.<ref name=GC18>''Grave Covenant'', ch. 18</ref>  Afterwards, the Constitution was amended prior to the [[Second Whitting Conference]] so that a simple majority vote of the Council could choose the next First Lord, with the [[ComStar]] representative casting the deciding vote in case of a tie.<ref name=PoH24>''Prince of Havoc'', ch. 24</ref>
 
The First Lord would be chosen by the Head's of state of the Inner Sphere from among themselves. [[ComStar]] would only vote in the case of a tie. Each term of First Lord was for 3 years and there was no possibility of being re-elected until all the other Head's of state had held the position.
 
 
 
The position of First Lord had little real power during the Second Star League. The second Star League was little more than a paper-tiger, which lacked its own military forces. Furthermore the First Lord was largely powerless to prevent member-nations from leaving.
 
 
 
Only three persons were elected First Lord of the second Star League.
 
  
*The ''[[First Whitting Conference]]'' on [[Tharkad]] in [[3058]] saw the resurrection of the Star League and the election of [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] of the [[Capellan Confederation]] as First Lord. It was First Lord Liao's responsibility to ensure the vital flow of supplies for the forces of the [[SLDF]], [[Operation Bulldog]] and [[Task Force Serpent]]. This was done by stationing Periphery Observation Troops under Star League Colors on nearly all planets with military manufacturers in the [[Chaos March]] and rerouting their output for Star League use. Near the end of his term, First Lord Liao deployed SLDF troops on various [[St. Ives Compact]] planets which precipitated the [[Capellan Civil War]]. All SLDF troops were withdrawn before the Second Whitting Conference.
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By design, the First Lord of the new Star League was a largely ceremonial role with very little power.<ref name=GC18/>  The First Lord did have the right to chose the [[Commanding General]] of the [[Second Star League Defense Force]], which could only be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the Council.<ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 75</ref>
 
 
*The ''[[Second Whitting Conference]]'' was held on Tharkad in [[3061]]. [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] was the first name to be put forward for eleciton to the post. However, the voting ended tied with three supports and three opposes. This meant that ComStar would cast the tie-breaking vote. However, [[Anastasius Focht]], the Precentor Martial of ComStar announced that he had resigned the post and that his successor would cast the vote. Focht's replacement as Precentor Martial, [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] voted against his sister. After Katherine failed to be elected, [[Theodore Kurita]] was elected as the First Lord. First Lord Kurita used his authority to send SLDF Troops to aid the St. Ives Compact during the [[Capellan Civil War]] and annexed the [[Lyons Thumb]] in favor of the [[Draconis Combine]].
 
 
*The ''[[Third Whitting Conference]]'' was held on [[Marik]] in [[3064]]. [[Christian Mansdottir]] of the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] was elected as First Lord.
 
  
*The ''[[Fourth Whitting Conference]]'' was held on Tharkad in the December of [[3067]]. Here, three of the members, [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] of the Capellan Confederation, [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] of the [[Federated Suns]], and [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] of the [[Lyran Alliance]], announced their intention to pull out of the Star League.  
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The position came to an end at the [[Fourth Whitting Conference]] when the [[Capellan Confederation]], [[Lyran Alliance]] and [[Federated Suns]] all signaled their intention to leave the second Star League.  First Lord [[Christian Månsdottir]] saw no solution but to call a vote of no-confidence, hoping the measure would be defeated and that this show of unity would persuade the dissenting members to change their minds.  However the measure was passed, formally dissolving the second Star League and with it the position of First Lord once again became void.
  
:A cornered First Lord Christian Mansdottir saw no solution but to call for a vote of no-confidence, hoping that the measure would be defeated and that this show of confidence and unity would persuade the dissenting members to change their minds.
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{| class="wikitable"
 
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|-
:However despite the provisional membership of the [[Word of Blake]] and of the [[Taurian Concordat]] the vote of no-confidence passed and the second Star League was dissolved.
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! scope="col" width="150" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
 
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! scope="col" width="150" style="background: #dedede;" | Reign
:The Word of Blake was in disbelief, having believed that its pending membership was the fulfillment of a centuries-old prophecy that described the way in which the quasi-mystical order would come to power. Furious it immediately started the [[Jihad]], sparking a new age of war and massive destruction.
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! scope="col" width="175" style="background: #dedede;" | Realm
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|-
With the dissolving of the second Star League the position of First Lord once again became void.
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| colspan="3" style="background: #efefef;" | '''First Lord of the second Star League, 3058 - 3067'''
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|-
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| [[Sun-Tzu Liao]]||[[3058]] - [[3061]]||[[Capellan Confederation]]
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|-
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| [[Theodore Kurita (31st c.)|Theodore Kurita]]||[[3061]] - [[3064]]||[[Draconis Combine]]
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|-
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| [[Christian Månsdottir]]||[[3064]] - [[3067]]||[[Free Rasalhague Republic]]
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|}
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 +
*''[[Grave Covenant]]''
 +
*''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]''
 +
*''[[Prince of Havoc]]''
 
*''[[The Star League]]''
 
*''[[The Star League]]''

Revision as of 15:54, 27 June 2018

The First Lord was the title for the head of state of the original Star League and the Second Star League, both interstellar alliances of all the Inner Sphere.

First Star League

The First Lord of the Star League had numerous powers that made them "first among equals" compared to the leaders of the other Great Houses, among which three were considered the most important. First was the ability to call on the Star League Defense Force; though war could not technically be declared without the High Council's approval, loopholes within the Accords (and the soldiers' willingness) allowed the First Lord to essentially give any order for "defensive" purposes. Second was the ability to shut down any exchange or mint, or any company dealing in inter-realm trade, at will. Third was the ability to withhold advanced Terran Hegemony technology from the other realms, a ploy often used in exchange for certain favors.[1]

The First Lord however was not the Commander-in-Chief of the SLDF; that role was filled by the Commanding General, who was nominated by the First Lord but required approval from the other Council Lords.[2]

During the first Star League the position of First Lord was a hereditary position held by House Cameron. However, Stefan Amaris was able to gain the confidence of the last First Lord, Richard Cameron, and in a dastardly plot killed him and wiped out the entire extended Cameron family. After his defeat in the Amaris Civil War and the exodus of the SLDF, none of the other Council Lords could agree on who should assume the position of First Lord. This led directly to the Succession Wars.

Name Reign Descent
First Lord of the Star League, 2571 - 2765
Ian Cameron 2571 - 2602
Nicholas Cameron 2602 - 2649 Son of Ian
Michael Cameron II 2649 - 2690 Grandson of Nicholas
Jonathan Cameron 2690 - 2738 Son of Michael
Simon Cameron 2738 - 2751 Son of Jonathan
Richard Cameron 2751 - 2765 Son of Simon

Second Star League

The position of First Lord was resurrected with the creation of the Second Star League. Faced with the continued threat of invasion by the Clans, the various powers of the Inner Sphere banded together to recreate the old alliance and present a united front to the Clan menace. Rather than a hereditary position, the First Lord would be chosen at a tri-annual Whitting Conference, either by lot or by a vote of two-thirds of the Council Lords, and that no one who had already served as First Lord could do so again until all others had already done so.[3] Afterwards, the Constitution was amended prior to the Second Whitting Conference so that a simple majority vote of the Council could choose the next First Lord, with the ComStar representative casting the deciding vote in case of a tie.[4]

By design, the First Lord of the new Star League was a largely ceremonial role with very little power.[3] The First Lord did have the right to chose the Commanding General of the Second Star League Defense Force, which could only be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the Council.[5]

The position came to an end at the Fourth Whitting Conference when the Capellan Confederation, Lyran Alliance and Federated Suns all signaled their intention to leave the second Star League. First Lord Christian Månsdottir saw no solution but to call a vote of no-confidence, hoping the measure would be defeated and that this show of unity would persuade the dissenting members to change their minds. However the measure was passed, formally dissolving the second Star League and with it the position of First Lord once again became void.

Name Reign Realm
First Lord of the second Star League, 3058 - 3067
Sun-Tzu Liao 3058 - 3061 Capellan Confederation
Theodore Kurita 3061 - 3064 Draconis Combine
Christian Månsdottir 3064 - 3067 Free Rasalhague Republic

References

  1. The Star League, p. 99
  2. The Star League, p. 112
  3. 3.0 3.1 Grave Covenant, ch. 18
  4. Prince of Havoc, ch. 24
  5. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 75

Bibliography